Myths Of Pool
Jerry Powers

## The Dominant Eye ##
Everybody thinks you need to put your cue under your dominant
eye or under your chin. But where does Keith McCready and Earl
Strickland fit in then? If this were the case, I guess they
might need to give back their world championships. Neither
Keith nor Earl hold their cues underneath their "dominant eye."
Keith and Earl, of course, are not the only players who hold
their cue in a place other than their "dominant eye," or chin.
The dominant eye is only good for the length of your arm. After
that length, both eyes must work together to give you true
precision in aiming.

## Hit the Ball and Then Follow Through ##
If you hit the ball, it's gone. What good is follow-through
going to do? The ball has already left the tip of your cue.
What would a baseball batter do if he hit the ball mid-swing,
and THEN finished his swing. What would he have? A bunt, right?
How about a golfer: if a golfer hits the ball, and then he
decides to finish his swing and follow through… What would this
be? Well, it'd just be a chip shot. The same principals that
apply to both of these sports must, also, then apply to
Billiards. A follow through is a two-part action when you hit
something and THEN follow through. This is, of course, opposed
to the correct method: a one-part action of hitting the ball!

## You've Got To Hold Your Cue Six Inches From the Balance
Point! ##
The problem with this is that the idea of a standard balance
point came from a book that was established in 1954 based on
Willie Mosconi. Willie Mosconi was only 5'4" and had only 26"
arms, and it goes without saying – these are likely not the
dimensions of the average player. And what about players like
Jim Rempe and David Howard who hold their cues either at the
back of the wrap or the back of the cue? With the varying
length of their wingspan, the position in which they grip their
cues also vary. I see guys that are about 6'4" trying to hold
their cues up closer to the wrap, but they eliminate their
needed stroking room!

## The Longer the Bridge or Heavier the Cue! ##
People think if they need to turn or twist their back end of
the cue while striking, however, this is ridiculous because the
cue is only in contact with the cue ball for 1/1000th of a
second. What effect then does the extra movement accomplish?
Are you breaking balls for dough or for show? If a heavier cue
is the answer, why not have a 50 lbs break cue? It would break
better, right? And if a longer cue is better why not make it 50
feet long? Based on the premise that you want to get the
heaviest cue with the longest bridge, your new cue would be
great with such a combination.

## Transferring Spin ##
Putting right spin on a ball before it contacts another ball
will not truly spin another that it contacts because of the
simple fact that was stated above: The balls are only in
contact for 1/1000th of a second. A good experiment for this is
putting two striped balls on the table (say a 10 and a 13), turn
the stripes exactly the same direction, and put extreme right or
left on the ball that you're hitting. If the other ball takes
the spin, then the other ball should take off spinning opposite
just as fast as you put the spin on the other. However, in a
real-life circumstance it turns out it'll shoot just as
straight. The contact surface between two balls is only about
the size of the tip of an ink pen; not a particularly large
surface to transfer spin with, is it?

## Swing your cue until it feels right, THEN hit the cue ball
##
Another big mistake that players make is swinging their cue
until it "feels right." That is as preposterous as aiming at a
target while wave your gun until you feel it's time pull the
trigger. This would never let your eye lock on the target,
because you are in motion. When you move, your eyes keep
gathering information so you can make a decision, but if you
keep swinging until "it feels right" how will your eyes focus
at the target to hit object ball correctly?

## The Cue Never Misses – It's so good you can't believe it! ##

The funniest thing I have ever heard is that one's "cue never
misses, because it's so good you wouldn't believe it!" I have
personally laid the cue on the table, backed up, and stood and
watched the cue and it has never made a shot by itself. I have
actually said get it, shoot it, and despite this, it just
doesn't seem to do a thing on its own. People really believe
the cue is what plays the game for them. A good cue is ONLY a
good cue, and will only go as far as the player's skill will
take them.


About The Author: Jerry Powers is a veteran in his industry
with over 20 years of manufacturing experience. His website and
cues can be viewed at http://www.jericocues.net, or you can
check out Jerry's articles at the Budget Billiards pool cues
newsletter (http://www.budgetcues.com/) .